Monthly Archives: June 2023

The path to the 2024 Olympics in Paris for U.S. gymnasts may be through Minneapolis.

Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE), the nonprofit that has been courting the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic trials for months, sent word of a news conference Tuesday morning for a "media-worthy celebration at Target Center to announce a MAJOR upcoming event to be held in Minneapolis."

MNSE President Wendy Blackshaw said she couldn't discuss the news in advance. But Blackshaw has made no secret of courting the Olympic gymnastics trials for months, and there has been no announcement yet on the location either here or elsewhere.

Last month, Gov. Tim Walz tweeted a photo taken with Olympic gymnastics gold medalist and St. Paul native Suni Lee when she stopped by the Capitol during session. He wrote: "Minnesota athletes like @sunisalee_ are writing sports history and we're working to keep that winning streak going by bringing sports like the gymnastics Olympic trials to the Twin Cities. Thank you to Suni and @MNSportsEvents for your work to get this done."

The Gymnastics Now website, which covers the sport, picked up on his comment and published a story about how the governor might have accidentally revealed that the 2024 trials are heading to the Twin Cities. But the publication said that both USA Gymnastics and Minnesota Sports and Events responded with "Woah there, buddy."

The timing would certainly be right for a gymnastics announcement. The event is set for June 27-30 next year with the men and women's competitions on alternating days. If the site is chosen for the event, tickets would go on sale immediately with Target Center expected to sell out for the glamour event of the Olympics.

Lee announced earlier this year that she was leaving Auburn after two years to focus on trying to make the Olympic team for Paris.

Minnesota has lost out on similar bids. MNSE wanted to host the 2024 swimming trials at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the pool trials will be held in Indianapolis next year.

Blackshaw was successful, however, in securing some state funding for MNSE this session. MNSE got $6 million in the Explore Minnesota Tourism budget and another $13 million to try to lure the WWE to town.

Blackshaw has previously said she expects the price tag to host the gymnastics event would be $5 million and come from a mixture of public and private money.

MNSE is a regional sports commission aiming to bring world-class events to Minnesota. In 2022, MNSE events included the NHL Winter Classic at Target Field, the MLS All-Star Game and the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four.

Earlier this year, MNSE hosted the 2023 Big Ten Women's Basketball Championship at Target Center. Next year, MNSE will host the men's and women's Big Ten championships and the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in hockey. In 2025, the women's Frozen Four will come to town and 2026 will bring the Special Olympics.

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Minnesota Sports and Events has major announcement next week - Star Tribune

Failure to implement good governance, lack of financial transparency and doubts over the integrity of the referee and judging process were the reasons that led the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to yesterday recommend the withdrawal of the recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

But, studying the full 24-page report released by the IOC explaining the decision, it is clear that it was the increasingly aggressive attitude of IBAs President Umar Kremlev towards the Olympic Movement that finally forced them to snap.

IBA - or AIBA, as it was then known - had been warned as long ago as May 2019 that they were in danger of being kicked out of the IOC when they stripped them of the right to organise the boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020, which then extended to them being cut out of Paris 2024 and left off the initial programme for Los Angeles 2028.

What seems to have particularly antagonised the Lords of the Rings is Kremlevs repeated claims that the IBA did not need the Olympics to survive. As recently as three days ago, the Russian told an interviewer, "We don't want to be dictated and governed by third persons."

The turning point, according to the IOC report, came in December last year shortly after the Federations Congress in Abu Dhabi, where there was "a change in attitude and tone of the IBAs letters was noticed What were initially obvious excuses to be uncooperative became open intimidation towards the IOC if it continued with the organisation of the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 without the IBAs support."

Certainly, the language used by Kremlev in his interview with Reuters that any decision to exclude boxing based solely on feelings of revenge against the IBA and its Russian President, and without any direct consultations, was "even worse than terrorism" was ill-judged in the current climate.

Even in the IBA press release yesterday. posted a couple of hours after the IOC Executive Board had effectively expelled the organisation from the Olympics, they were trying to claim that they were bigger than the Games.

"The IBA remains the home of boxing and we now move forward as an organisation dedicated to the health of the forest not just one tree which only represents participation for 248 boxers every four years," IBAs secretary general George Yerolimpos said in a florid paragraph.

Well, the IBAs bluff has now been well and truly called and they can put their theory to the test if, as it surely will, the special IOC Session on June 22, accepts the Executive Board recommendation to de-recognise them.

"Considering these repeated declarations, it can only be noted that the IBA has no interest in continuing to belong to the Olympic Movement under the leadership of the IOC," the report pointedly says. "In fact, the IBA does not need the IOCs recognition to continue its activities outside the Olympic Movement as part of the wider sports community."

At a hastily convened online IBA Board of Directors tomorrow, Kremlev will face questions over his high-risk strategy which has failed spectacularly. He could even face calls for him to resign, although he is expected to comfortably rebuff such attempts and promise that IBA still has a bright future under him. Yerolimpos may not be so fortunate and could be the one left to carry the can.

Kremlev will try to persuade those involved in the IBA that under him, the governing body can still look forward to staging major events offering record prize money and unrivalled opportunities for boxers from all the over the world to compete.

Interestingly, though, this increase in the amount of prize money being offered at IBA events was among concerns setting alarm bells ringing in Lausanne, along with the bodys controversial relationship with Gazprom.

IBA has claimed that they did not renew their sponsorship agreement with Russias state-owned energy company after it ended at the end of last year, even though Kremlev had asked at the Congress in Abu Dhabi just a few weeks earlier whether members were happy for it to continue.

The IBA website had continued to display Gazproms logo and it was only removed early in April, coinciding with calls from Yerolimpos to insidethegamesto claim the deal had not been renewed, even though we had been reported for several months that it had been following the vote at the Congress which we had reported from on-site. It turns out now that references to Gazprom were taken down following a letter from the IOC.

The next month, however, during the Mens World Championships in Tashkent, IBA claimed that "we will extend [Gazprom] if there is an opportunity" and "we are thankful for Gazprom". The IOC report noted, "All this contradictory information appears to be a sign of the IBAs lack of financial transparency and reliability."

Yet, Kremlev still announced in Tashkent that at next years IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Astana in Kazakhstan nearly $5 million (4 million/4.5 million) in prize money will be offer.

IBA have told the IOC that this is figure, which the IOC note is "considerably high, in particular in comparison with IF allocations", is being bankrolled by the host fee paid by cities and countries staging its events.

This, the IOC fear, could lead to medals being awarded to boxers from the host country as a "reward", which would not be the first time this happened in the sport. "Such a direct link between the events host and the financing of the competitions prizes may create a conflict-of-interest situation, in the past a similar situation occurred in relation to the qualification competitions for the Olympic Games London 2012, and AIBAs reputation was questioned at the time," the IOC report warns.

IBAs finances remain a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, to quote Winston Churchills famous quote about the Soviet Union. According to the IOC, in the absence of ending its deal with Gazprom, IBA have failed to "produce any effective evidence of the signing of new contracts providing cash revenues".

The IOC added, "One may conclude that the IBAs cash position can only be expected to further decline after June 2023, if the expenditure is maintained at the current budget level and no additional sources of revenues are contracted for the next period."

The IOC have just as little confidence in IBAs governance, claiming that changes to statutes were just window dressing. "Change of governance culture implies not only that a sports organisation changes its legal texts, but also that it ensures that the principles of good governance are fully implemented in all the activities and practices of the organisation," it writes in its report.

The decision to first exclude Dutchman Boris van der Vorst from standing against Kremlev at the IBA Extraordinary Congress in Istanbul in May 2022, and then ignore the subsequent Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that he had been unfairly excluded and fail to re-stage the election at another Extraordinary Congress in Yerevan last September, is called a "disrespect" of the decision.

The resignation of the IBAs entire Audit Committee was another red flag for the IOC.

The failure to properly reform the referee and judging process following the scandal at Rio 2016 also undermined confidence, a situation exacerbated by trying to force PricewaterhouseCoopers, who had overseen the Olympic boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020, to sign a non-disclosure agreement to assess the Womens World Boxing Championships in New Delhi in March which would have limited the information they could have shared with the IOC. It is little wonder that they found that behaviour suspicious.

It is noticeable that the IOC report carefully refrains from criticising Kremlev personally or drawing attention to his close links to Vladimir Putin, totally ignoring the decision to allow boxers from Russia and Belarus to compete under its own flag in direct defiance of recommendations issued following Moscows invasion of Ukraine. This has clearly been done to try to give an opportunity for Russia to frame this decision as a political one linked to the war.

In truth, this has been coming for years, long before Kremlev was involved - do not forget he succeeded as permanent President, Gafur Rakhimov, included on United States Treasury Department sanctions list as "one of Uzbekistan's leading criminals" and allegedly closely involved heroin trafficking.

Kremlevs recent interventions may have accelerated the process, but the IOC claimed the latest report "shows not only one specific point of non-compliance but an accumulation of points of non-compliances with the conditions set out by the IOC.

"Taken separately, each point justifies the conclusion that the IBA did not fulfil the conditions set out by the IOC. Hence, the accumulation of all of these points, and the constant lack of drastic evolution throughout the many years, creates a situation of no-return."

It leaves World Boxing, the breakaway group described by IBA as a "rogue organisation" and which the IOC claim they are not behind, in pole position to take over.

But do not think IBA are going to just lay down and accept a count to 10. Remember, so far only two countries of IBAs 201 members have pledged to join World Boxing, although this number will surely increase dramatically in the next few weeks.

Funded by Russian money, Kremlev will try to re-fashion IBA as a world governing body offering more opportunities, more money, more resources to its members. To quote Churchill again, This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

Perhaps at this point, the only real winner so far is Olympic boxing, which tucked away, right at the end of the IOC report, it is confirmed will be on the programme at the Games in 2028. "The additional consequence of this situation is that the IBA should not organise the Olympic Games LA28 boxing tournament," is how the report is concluded.

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IOC call IBA's bluff over future without Olympics, but boxing on LA28 programme - Insidethegames.biz

After tumultuous months under interim leadership, the Garden Theatre announced two major appointments Thursday both men with Walt Disney World experience who also have a history of involvement with the theater.

Keith Davenport, who has worked for Disney in event management and produced extravaganzas, including the Olympics, Special Olympics and Invictus Games ceremonies and Super Bowl halftime shows, has taken on the new role of chief organizational leader.

In addition, the Winter Garden theater which saw much of its staff depart the organization last summer has revealed new leadership for its board of directors.

Rich Taylor is the new board chair; he previously served as vice president of Disney Creative Entertainment and Costuming, overseeing nearly 5,000 performers in parades and shows. Under his watch, Disney created notable spectacles like the Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom and the Festival of the Lion King stage show.

For months, as public acrimony with former employees, performers and others played out on social media, the theater had removed the names of staff and board members from its website. But gardentheatre.org has been updated to list more than a dozen employees and a board of 14.

Taylor had been associated with the theater in a non-leadership capacity, spokeswoman Sara Brady said, and joined the board within the past year before being elected chairman. Other new board officers include vice chair David Baldree, treasurer Todd Wheeler and secretary David Romano.

Davenports role was created after an eight-month organizational assessment by various consultants. In it, he will provide the strategic direction that enables Garden Theatre to achieve its annual and long-term goals for artistic excellence, financial sustainability and community engagement, according to Thursdays announcement.

The theater has worked with organizations such as the Edyth Bush Institute of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership in Winter Park in strengthening its governance and implementing a strategy for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Garden also has been receiving guidance from Boston-based Arts Consulting Group, whose Tom Carto has been the theaters interim managing director since March 2022. Davenports new role means Carto will depart his position shortly, Brady said.

The theater had been without a permanent person in an executive director-type role since December 2021, when Elisa Spencer-Kaplan departed the organization. Artistic director Joseph C. Walsh blamed the strain of working without a colleague in that managerial role when he resigned six months later, in June 2022.

Walshs departure prompted an outcry and charges that the board of directors was out of touch with staff, particularly with people of color. Eventually, numerous staff members resigned, followed by layoffs as the theater paused operations to regroup.

Theatrical performances restarted in January with a successful production of the musical Rock of Ages through a new partnership with Victory Productions. That partnership is continuing, Brady said, with Victorys Dreamgirls set to open later this month.

Davenport has been involved with the Garden for 11 years as a patron and donor, according to the theaters announcement, and more recently as a board member, serving as chair of the programming and partnerships committee. Davenport, 53, resigned from his board seat to lead the staff.

When a unique creative opportunity such as this comes along, its just hard not to pursue it, Davenport said in a statement. Thats how I feel about Garden Theatre, which is an important local institution that I have loved and supported for years. The theater has come such a long way in recent months and Im looking forward to playing an active role in continuing to ensure that Central Florida has a theater where performers and audiences want to be.

We are extremely fortunate that Keith has taken this role with the theater, Taylor said in the announcement. He brings a remarkable and extensive level of global experience and expertise in entertainment and production, with the added bonus that he is a well-known member of the community and understands the Garden Theatre. The value the theater gains from his knowledge, experience and professionalism is unprecedented.

After retiring from Disney, Taylor became dean of the College of the Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma, where he served as executive producer for 350 productions each year. He now runs a consulting business, Rich Imagination.

We couldnt be more enthusiastic about Garden Theatres future, he said in his statement. Its certainly not been an easy year, but we have worked to grow in a smart way that helps heal but also brings some joy and happiness to our community.

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/arts, and go to orlandosentinel.com/theater for theater news and reviews.

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Garden Theatre gets new leaders with Disney, Olympics experience - Orlando Sentinel

Assistant coach Tim Cone says qualifying for the Paris Games is the target as Gilas Pilipinas tries to finish as the highest-placed Asian team in the FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines Assistant coach Tim Cone is under no illusion that Gilas Pilipinas can go all the way in the FIBA World Cup.

But the winningest PBA coach said qualifying for the Paris Games is the target as the Philippines tries to finish as the highest-placed Asian squad in the World Cup, a feat that guarantees a spot in the Olympics next year.

Were not going to win the World Cup, thats for sure, Cone told One News Thought Leaders with Cathy Yang. Were not going to beat the Dream Team or Greece with Giannis Antetokounmpo or Slovenia with Luka Doncic.

Were not going to beat those teams, but our goal in the World Cup, if we finish as the best Asian team in the World Cup, then we automatically qualify for the Olympics. Thats really the goal.

Drawn in Group A with world No. 10 Italy, No. 23 Dominican Republic, and No. 41 Angola, Gilas Pilipinas is the only Asian team bunched with just one top 20 nation.

China, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, and Jordan are all grouped with two top 20 squads.

Iran, which qualified for the Tokyo Games as the best-placed Asian team in the 2019 World Cup in China, will go up against No. 1 Spain and No. 13 Brazil in Group G.

China is with No. 6 Serbia and No. 20 Puerto Rico in Group B;Jordan with No. 2 USA and No. 9 Greece in Group C; Japan with No. 3 Australia and No. 11 Germany in Group E; and Lebanon with No. 5 France and No. 15 Canada in Group H.

To boost its Olympic chances, the Philippines eyes a top-two finish in its group to advance to the second round.

It will not be a walk in the park, though, as Gilas Pilipinas lost to all of its three opponents in Group A in their previous encounters.

The Philippines absorbed a 46-point beating from Italy and suffered an overtime loss to Angola in the last World Cup and fell to Dominican Republic by 27 points in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament two years ago.

But Cone said the national team is capable of making a splash with the right pieces.

As long as we have all the players, Kai Sotto, Jordan Clarkson Dwight Ramos, we get the team that we envisioned, that weve been working with we can be competitive and we might be able to do something, he said.

Kicking off its World Cup preparations on Wednesday, June 7, Gilas Pilipinas is scheduled for a European camp to face teams from Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania over the next two months. Rappler.com

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Cone frank about Gilas' World Cup chances, says goal is to qualify for Paris Olympics - Rappler

The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee has now made Oklahoma City a candidate to host some Summer Olympic games in 2028. They might be moving the games canoe slalom events to River Sport OKC.

The staff at River Sport says that they are more focused on confirmed international events coming to town. But this of course is great for them, Oklahoma City, and the entire state.

Executive Director Steve Knopp said, People wouldnt have expected this in Oklahoma or Oklahoma City.

Ross Solly with The ICF (International Canoe Federation) has confirmed that River Sport OKC is being considered to host some Summer Olympic events in 2028.

Knopp said in a statement, I can confirm that we are continuing to hold discussions with LA28 regarding options for a host venue for canoe slalom for the Olympics. As you will know, we have already had several events at your excellent Oklahoma City facility and are in close contact with venue management and American Canoeing to ensure if this is the option that is decided, it will meet all the requirements as specified by the IOC. We are hoping to have a decision very soon.

(https://www.city-sentinel.com/arts_and_entertainment/oklahoma-city-to-host-up-to-seven-events-leading-to-olympic-games-in-la/article_647d8f18-d5e9-11ec-8ca2-cbeb5909bdc3.html)

Oklahoma City will also be home to the 2026 Canoe Slalom World Championships as well as several international events in 2024.

The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce said, Oklahoma Citys Boathouse District is recognized as a top venue for national and international competition. The organizers of River Sport, in cooperation with the City of Oklahoma City and Visit OKC, work together to attract and host events that create a positive economic impact for our city. Please visit http://www.riversportokc.com to see a list of upcoming regional, national, and international competitions announced to take place in Oklahoma City."

Oklahoma City has quickly become considered a location for many world-class events since the successful implementation of the MAPS program along with the acquisition of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Olympic events will be a natural fit for OKC.

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2028 Summer Olympics could be coming to OKC Riversport, decision coming soon - City-sentinel

Gay Olympic rower Robbie Manson has become the latest athlete to join OnlyFans, sharing the news with his 30,000 fans on Instagram.

Manson, a two-time Olympian and under-23 and senior world championship medalist, comes from a family of rowers. His father Greg won the singles lightweight national championship in 1985, and his brother Karl has also competed on the international stage.

Hailing from New Zealand, Manson publicly came out as gay in 2014, sharing his experience in a statement published by Out Sports. In the piece, Manson described realising his sexuality at the age of 19 but struggling to admit it to himself, attempting to deny those feelings and conform to heterosexuality.

Over the weekend, Manson took to Instagram to announce that he had officially joined the internet content subscription platform. His caption read:

Ive joined OnlyFans! I can almost hear the gasps and raised eyebrows from here. But before you judge, hear me out! Now, let me clarify: I havent gone rogue and started a secret adult film career. No! Im on OnlyFans sharing artistic pictures that celebrate the human form in a tasteful and respectful manner.

Think of it as a highbrow gallery meets my rowing journey, sprinkled with a dash of cheekiness. Why, you ask? Well, besides the fact that Im all about pushing boundaries and challenging norms, it also helps support me financially while Im pursuing my passion as an athlete.

Manson explained his reason for joining OnlyFans. Besides the fact that Im all about pushing boundaries and challenging norms, it also helps support me financially while Im pursuing my passion as an athlete, Manson said.

The athlete assured his followers there would be no explicit content or shenanigans, just a fun and playful space where I can express myself creatively and promote body positivity, sensuality, and self-acceptance. Manson acknowledged that his decision may not align with everyones expectations.

I want to emphasise that my core values and dedication to my athletic pursuits remain intact. So, lets keep the judgment at bay and embrace this quirky adventure together. Im grateful for your support, your sense of humour, and your open minds as I strive for greatness both on and off the water, Manson added.

In a recent interview with Out Sports, Manson reflected on his break from rowing, during which he explored other interests such as working with horses and coaching. Now, he is making a comeback in his rowing career, with his sights set on the upcoming World Championships in Belgrade in September and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

I believe my story holds the potential to inspire and challenge conventional perspectives. Its about embracing authenticity, pursuing passions, and navigating uncharted waters, he wrote.

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Gay Olympic Rower Robbie Manson Joins OnlyFans - Star Observer

One year before French capital hosts the greatest show on earth, Fridays Diamond League will act as a brilliant apritif

The Diamond League in Paris on Friday (June 9) features line-ups that are every bit as strong as some of the Olympic finals we will see in the same French capital next year. Brits in action include Keely Hogkinson, Laura Muir and Dina Asher-Smith, while international stars include Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Faith Kipyegon, both of whom will be outside their comfort zone in events they dont usually do.

Running here is going to be amazing with one year to go before the Olympics, said Asher-Smith at the pre-event press conferences on Thursday. Its an amazing opportunity. I know this might sound controversial but its only an hour from London it feels like a home Olympics. There are good vibes for next year and good vibes for tomorrow.

Asher-Smith faces Abbey Steiner, Gabby Thomas, Marie-Jose Ta Lou and others in the 200m while Hodgkinson takes on Ajee Wilson, Raevyn Rogers, Halima Nakaayi, Noelie Yarigo, Catriona Bisset, to name a few, in her summer debut over 800m.

Muir, meanwhile, is in the most intriguing race of all as she tackles the 5000m for the first time in several years as she aims to smash her PB of 14:49.12, which was set indoors in 2017.

Laura Muir and Faith Kipyegon (Getty)

Also in the field is Kipyegon, fresh from her 3:49.11 world 1500m record in Florence. Like Muir she is making a rare step-up in distance, too, although she says it is part of a plan to eventually move to the marathon.

It was a really beautiful night and smashing that record, said Kipyegon, whose PB of 14:31.95 dates back to 2015. Im expecting a good race but Im nervous as its really long and eight years since I ran it seriously. I want to graduate to 5000m first and upgrade slowly and slowly to the marathon in the future. I dont know when or where but I have in my mind it will happen some day.

An incredible field also sees world 5000m, 10,000m and half-marathon record-holder Letesenbet Gidey take part in her first race since her dramatic collapse at the end of the World Cross Country Championships in February.

The line-up also includes world steeplechase record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech, world 5km record-holder Ejgayehu Taye, world indoor 3000m champion Lemlem Hailu of Ethiopia, 2019 world silver medallist Margaret Kipkemboi, world cross bronze medallist Agnes Ngetich and North American 10,000m record-holder Alicia Monson

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Getty)

An expected crowd of 18,000 at the Stade Charlety will also see Jakob Ingebrigtsen attack Daniel Komens world two miles record of 7:58.61, which was set in Hechtel in 1997. Failing that, the European best is held by Mo Farah with 8:07.85, set in Birmingham in 2014.

Can the Olympic 1500m champion run two consecutive sub-four-minute miles? His opposition includes world under-20 cross-country champion Ishmael Kipkirui and recent Night of the 10,000m PBs winner Paul Chelimo.

Marcell Jacobs (Getty)

After missing recent races with small injury issues, Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs takes on world 200m champion Noah Lyles, plus Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, in the 100m. World 100m champion Fred Kerley is a notable absentee, though, with Jacobs saying on Thursday: This thing ( recent trash talk) I have with Fred is a lot of fun as it gets people talking about a sport that needs more visibility. Its good to have some hype.

Sydney McLaughlin (Getty)

McLaughlin-Levrone, the world 400m hurdles record-holder from the United States, faces world No.1 Marileidy Paulino of Dominican Republic in her specialist event the flat 400m. Watch out too for 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, who is improving with every race following a suspension due to missing drugs tests. US heptathlete Anna Hall and Britains Ama Pipi are also in the race.

McLaughlin-Levrone said: Everyone is expecting crazy, amazing things but my goal is to open up my season healthily and strong and see where Im at as we continue to progress through 2023.

Hall is also in the womens high jump along with Brit Morgan Lake, American Vashti Cunningham and Australian Nicola Olyslagers, while French decathlon star Kevin Mayer is in a triathlon (long jump, sprint hurdles and shot put).

Kevin Mayer (Getty)

Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia, who broke Komens world indoor 3000m record earlier this year, is looking for a fast time in the mens 3000m steeplechase. Maybe the world record of 7:53.63 could be under danger too.

As if all this isnt entertaining enough, there will be breakdancing exhibitions in between the track and field action ahead of that sports Olympic debut in Paris in 2024.

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Olympic-quality athletics arrives one year early in Paris - AW - Athletics Weekly

OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Elliana Leone proudly displays her red ribbon for competing in the Special Olympics wheelchair race on Wednesday morning at SUNY Fredonia. Elliana is flanked by teacher aide Amy Witkowski and kindergarten teacher Mark Putney, while surrounded by her classmates who came from Wheelock School to support her.

Every athlete deserves a chance to compete. Wednesday provided that opportunity for nearly 300 athletes that deserve the thrill of competition as much as anyone.

The 32nd annual Special Olympics Track and Field Meet was held Wednesday at SUNY Fredonia for athletes of all ages from local school districts. The event returned after a three-year hiatus.

Its life changing. These guys are amazing, said Amy Witkowski, a teacher aide at Wheelock School. Its a feeling that you cant ever replicate, except for here once a year. Im so happy they brought it back.

Among the school districts to participate included the LoGuidice Educational Center (BOCES), Brocton, Dunkirk, Forestville, Fredonia, Gowanda, North Collins, Pine Valley and Silver Creek. The competitions were held exclusively inside Dods Hall and the Steele Hall Fieldhouse due to poor air quality conditions caused by the ongoing Canadian wildfires.

Its overwhelming. The energy is so positive, said Nichole Dispense, nurse at Dunkirk School 7. Its just an amazing environment, and Im so happy our students get to do this.

Dunkirk student Gabe Valentine carried the torch last, as the runners took laps around the track following the parade of Special Olympics athletes during the opening ceremony.

Despite the challenging air quality conditions, the morning began with the Scott Kowalski Memorial Torch Run, which commenced at 9 a.m. at Dunkirk High School. Local law enforcement participated alongside Dunkirk students, who began the run outside of the school entrance, took a lap around the halls, then departed to commence their journey from the Dunkirk High School campus to the SUNY Fredonia Fieldhouse at Steele Hall. Since the Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1986, more than $14 million has been raised for Special Olympics of New York.

Ive never been part of a cadence before, so that was new. That was so much fun. It was a nice group of guys, they are here for a good cause it was just fun. I got so much from it, said Zach Zentz, a Dunkirk High School student who participated in the torch run.

Possession of the torch passed through hands of each runner until it wound up in the hands of Dunkirk student Gabe Valentine, who carried it as the runners took laps around the track following the parade of Special Olympics athletes during the opening ceremony. Valentine carried the torch last to honor members of his family who have served as corrections officers, just as Kowalski did before he passed away in 2017. Kowalski participated in the torch run for the Special Olympics during his time as a corrections officer. Flags to honor Kowalski and Donna Northrop, who served as a Department of Corrections Grievance Supervisor until her death in 2018, were carried alongside the torch throughout the route.

After the final lap was completed, Dunkirk students sang the national anthem on stage. Then, each schools athletes were recognized prior to the commencement of the games.

Among the first competitions of the day was the wheelchair race, which featured a pair of kindergarten students from Wheelock among the participants. Jessi Blanco Pagan from Kathy Rushs class and Elliana Leone from Mark Putneys class competed in the race, as they were cheered on by their classmates, who made the trip in support, holding custom handmade posters.

OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Dunkirk student athlete Ayden Hamernick eyes a target distance during the tennis ball throw event at the Special Olympics, Wednesday, at SUNY Fredonia.

This has just been an awesome experience for our student, Elliana, and all the students in our classroom, said Putney. Were cheerleaders for her today. This is her day.

Elliana competed in the race individually as her aide, Witkowski, cheered from the sidelines along with the rest of the class.

Watching her from the beginning of the school year to now, its like a flower when it blossoms, Witkowski said. Its really amazing, I cant describe the feeling.

All throughout the events, students were seen celebrating their accomplishments. From Elliana proudly holding her red ribbon in the air after the wheelchair race, to athletes clapping and shouting after tossing a tennis ball or a softball, the pride shown in the participants athleticism was prominently featured throughout the day.

Its always fun to see the kids perform. I think we might be more excited than they are, Forestville Superintendent Dr. John OConnor said. Its nice to see the smile on their faces, and for them to compete with their colleagues and friends.

Elliana Leone, a kindergarten student in Mark Putneys Wheelock School class, throws a softball during one of her three events of the day.

We have some of, I believe, the most competitive athletes in the Special Olympics program especially Mekiah (Sedlacek) shoutout to you, added Valentine in support of his Dunkirk classmates. Like the Special Olympics motto says, I know that if they dont succeed, they will still have lots of fun. I just think its great that they get to participate.

Law enforcement officers and Dunkirk High School students participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. The torch was carried from Dunkirk High School to SUNY Fredonias Fieldhouse at Steele Hall.

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Day for champions: Hundreds cheer on Special Olympics at SUNY - Evening Observer

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are right on track and will set new standards for future stagings, the chair of the visiting International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission told a media conference here today.

Speaking after the Commissions latest three-day visit, Belgiums Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant announced: "We are confident that Paris will be ready to host the Games next year - and not just any Games, but a new type of Games.

"They will be unique, innovative, spectacular.

"They will be fully inclusive, sustainable, responsible and useful to society.

"We are convinced of this after our visit here - Paris will be a turning point of the organisation of the Games in the modern era.

"There will be a before and after for the Paris 2024 Games - we are convinced of this.

"The Paris 2024 ambitions and confidence are higher than ever.

"There are no delays - everything is on schedule.

"We have been delighted to see that, for the very first time, we have not worried about the Games opening on time because everything has already been pretty much built and a beautiful job has been done.

"Paris is where it should be 415 days before the Opening Ceremony."

During the visit Commission members held extensive meetings with Paris 2024 staff and looked over the Aquatics Centre that is nearing completion in Saint-Denis.

They also spent some time at the French Open tennis tournament, which taking place at Roland Garros, which is due to host both tennis and boxing competition at next year's Olympic Games.

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet added: "It is really great to hear the IOC congratulate us.

"It is a good sign for all of those who have been working so hard on this project since 2017 to deliver an incredible Games.

"With 415 days to go this visit has been a major event for us.

"It has been a great thing for us to have been able to take stock of all the comments we have received and a wonderful opportunity for us to absorb lessons and to be more serene for the rest of the preparation work.

"We know the clock is ticking and we are fully mobilised, but we also need to remain humble.

"We want to be able to welcome the world in 2024 and we all feel a collective enthusiasm."

Referring to recent polls showing 92 per cent of French inhabitants were in favour of the Games, and also to the recent Olympic and Paralympic Week that engaged a million schoolchildren in learning and activity, Beckers-Vieujant added: "Never before has there been such determination to engage with the population of a host country.

"Paris 2024 wants to root the Games in the daily lives of French citizens, and this is something that is unprecedented.

"We are leaving here with a very high level of trust.

"The Games are taking shape, they are coming to life - you can really feel it."

This was the last significant visit by the IOC Coordination Commission ahead of a final look-in year.

The Commission comprises 11 members of the IOC, along with a representative each from the International Paralympic Committee and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

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IOC Coordination Commission chair says Paris 2024 will stage new Olympics - Insidethegames.biz